Postnatal Massage & Why Every Birthing Parent Deserves It
You’ve probably heard all about (and maybe even had!) prenatal massages. But postnatal massages are just as beneficial—if not more so!
Pre and postnatal massage therapists have special training in how to care for postpartum bodies. And postnatal massages are safe as soon as two days after birth.
So whether you’re sore from labour and delivery, you ache from all the time you spend hunched over feeding, changing, and lovin’ on your baby, or you want help with that C-section scar, a postnatal massage will put you and your healing first. And you deserve that!
Postnatal Massage in the Greater Vancouver Area
Capria Care Collective offers therapeutic care for all parents. Our clinic is conveniently located in the heart of Coquitlam and has tons of 5-star reviews. And our postnatal massage therapists are mindful, conscious, and understanding. We would love to help take care of you while you take care of your baby—and your body heals from birth.
Prefer to skip the reading and start the self-care right now?
You Deserve Postnatal Self-Care & Recovery
During pregnancy, self-care is encouraged—even hailed. Pregnant people are told to relax and take it easy. A grocery store stranger says “Don’t lift that basket, I’ve got it!” Your mother chastises you for pushing yourself too hard. Well-meaning friends tell you to “Eat up, the baby needs it!” But once the baby is born, that encouragement stops cold. During postpartum, we receive messages that we should bounce back, put the baby first, and really just ignore the fact that we, too, are human beings. I would say it’s mind blowing, but this isn’t my first day living in this society.
During the postpartum period, your body is healing from something that’s physically demanding at best and physically traumatic at worst. Yes, you get your baby out of it. And I’m sure you’d say that makes it all worth it, but you deserve dedicated time to recover, too. The problem? Most postpartum people don’t get that. It’s the opposite—instead of even returning to the level of self-care they practiced before giving birth, they’re sleeping less, eating sporadically, and giving themselves over mentally, emotionally, and physically to their new baby. Is that noble and even beautiful? Absolutely. Is it the best we can do to support new parents? Absolutely not.
Well, I might not have an antidote to all of that nonsense…but I do have something that can help you prioritize your self-care, recovery, and humanity during the postpartum period: postnatal massage!
How Postnatal Massage Works
During pregnancy, massage is used to treat—you guessed it!—pregnancy-related symptoms. Back pain, soreness, swelling, headaches, stress, and anxiety can all be addressed, among other conditions. Postpartum, our approach is much the same. Only now, our focus is on helping you recover.
We use postpartum massage treatments to alleviate any residual pain in your body after giving birth. We use therapeutic techniques to support any rehabilitation goals you have. We use relaxation supports like aromatherapy to help you rest and de-stress. And, we provide the space for you to prioritize—and take an hour to—yourself. (On some days, this might be the biggest benefit of all!)
The Benefits of Postnatal Massage
Clinically speaking, postnatal massage can help to:
Reduce muscle tension, tightness, soreness, and stiffness
Rehabilitate muscles injured or strained during birth
Reduce any tension stemming from caregiving and breastfeeding
Relieve headaches and migraines
Support the uterus as it contracts after birth
Support hormone balance
Reduce stress hormones like cortisol
Release feel-good endorphins
Relieve low back pain
Reduce residual swelling from pregnancy
Help correct posture during caregiving and breastfeeding (to reduce discomfort)
Increase circulation to support healing
Reduce pain after a C-section
Promote C-section scar healing
Breast massage can also help with lactation and breast pain
Pretty powerful, right? And the benefits go even further if you pair your postnatal massages with pelvic floor physiotherapy!
Postnatal Massage for C-Section Recovery
C-section recovery isn’t easy, but postpartum massage can go a long way in helping you get there. Postpartum massage is perfectly safe after a C-section. And because it can help you recover physically and mentally, it’s a great way to care for yourself after giving birth.
Your C-section incision had to go through seven layers of abdominal tissue, which means all seven of those layers need to heal afterward. (It also means you’re a badass!) Sometimes, these incisions take a long time to heal, which is common. But eventually, they do heal, leaving you with a small scar.
Once this initial healing is done, many people feel fine. But some experience lingering numbness above or below their scars. Or, they feel a pulling sensation—almost like the skin around the scar is “too tight”. This is where postnatal and scar massage comes in!
Massage therapy can help your C-section scar recover by:
Mobilizing the scar tissue so it doesn’t pull, tug, or “catch”
Increasing blood flow—which promotes healing and reduces numbness
Decreasing low-grade abdominal pain, PMS pain following the birth, and low back pain
Increasing bladder capacity by reducing adhesions (bands of scar tissue that connect two surfaces in the body that usually wouldn’t be connected in the bladder and uterus)
Increasing the mobility of your internal organs (this increases function and decreases pain)
Related: How Postpartum Massage Can Help You Heal After A C-Section
When Are Postnatal Massages Safe?
You can get a postnatal massage as soon as 24 hours post-delivery. At that point, full-body massages are completely safe regardless of your delivery type. The only exception is C-section scar massage. In that case, wait until your wound has completely closed and redness is minimal.
Just be intentional about booking with a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) and ideally, someone trained in prenatal and postpartum massage. Choosing an RMT means choosing someone licensed in therapeutic massage in Canada. Choosing someone with pre and post-natal training ensures you’ll see someone who knows exactly how much or how little treatment you need. They’ll only do as much as is helpful without pushing your body past its limits.
Support Your Recovery With Postnatal Massage
You deserve some dedicated time and attention to help your body heal postpartum. Massage is an impactful and effective way to carve it out!
Ready to book a postnatal massage? Complete the form below to get started!